Separated

Chapter XIV

ELLE

Music: Dear Blue from Salamander 2

"So, let me get this straight. We're planning on going to this island out in the middle of nowhere to stop an army from invading it? And you don't think it's a waste of our time?" Mia asks Luke after he finishes his explanation.

"Mia, we're talking about saving dozens of innocent lives here. It will definitely be worth our time," Luke replies. I decide to take it for what it is.

"Okay, but just how do you think we're gonna get to the island? Do you expect us to swim there or something? Shanna asks. Luke looks stumped, if only just for a second. This is definitely not a question he was expecting.

An idea comes to my mind. "What about Sam's hovercraft? We could fly there."

"I thought it couldn't find people near large bodies of water," Sean says, confused.

"That only applies to the human GPS," Luke explains. "If we're just signaling it in, it can find people anywhere as long as it knows of the location."

"Who agrees with me that the hovercraft is way too damn confusing?" Mia sighs.

"Hey, I didn't design the thing," Luke mutters. "Now, I recall there being a specific way to signal it in, but to be honest, I forgot what it was..."

I solve this dilemma for Luke. I raise my left arm and lets out a somewhat raspy whistle. It does the job good enough. Merely ten seconds later, a gray object zooms by us, creating blue streaks from its engine smoke. It actually flies right by us and goes on for a few more feet before realizing it passed us (the thing has artificial intelligence).

"Problem number two: Do any of us know how to fly this thing?" Mia asks. Typically, either Sam and Heath are our designated pilots, and, well, neither of them are present.

"Sam let me fly it around once. I could probably do it," Luke says, stepping up to the controls.

"Whatever you say," Mia shrugs.

-

Something about this particular flight that amuses me is that we don't usually fly over a large body of water, especially an ocean. I wouldn't say there's anything special across the experience. The hovercraft's shiny, metallic surface does create a reflection of light off of the water, which I guess looks neat.

I'm sitting in the co-pilot seat. Normally, I'd be sitting next to Sam, but... yeah, you get my point. Mia, Sean, and Shanna are sitting on the far back end of the hovercraft, gazing at the water below. Every now and then, I'll turn around to look at Mia, and the memories of Mia coming at me with her knife come back, causing me to shudder.

Luke eventually takes notice of this, so he puts the hovercraft on autopilot and taps my shoulder to get my attention. "How're ya doing?" he asks me.

I shrug. "Fine, I guess."

"You still seem rather preoccupied."

I let out a long sigh. "I'm just trying to figure out why Mia would hate me. I mean, what did I ever do to her? She's known me for almost a year at this point, and until just recently, she's never seemed to mind my sensitivity. I just don't understand."

Luke turns his chair so that we're face-to-face. "Personally, I don't think you did anything. I think Mia's intimidated by you more than anything."

I raise an eyebrow in confusion. "What makes you say that?"

"I mean, think about it. You're smart, pretty, athletic, nice to everyone you meet, and have an incredible relationship going." He pauses for a moment, and I can tell that this situation is awkward to him. "Okay, please tell me if it sounds like I'm flirting with you. I don't want to be a bad friend to Sam here."